Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1887-11-11
Closing the War.

Closing the War.
The man who claims to have ordered
the last shot fired on the Confederate
side during the late unpleasantness is
Mr.. A. B. Faircloth, of Camilla, Ca,
q gentleman as modest as he is brave
The incident was told us by Captain
d. H. Sanders, an old comrade in arms
of Mr.. Faircloth, and forms unique
feature in the unwritten history of The
great struggle. Mr.. Faircloth be-
longed to Company e, I'd Georgia
cavalry. This regiment was for some
time associated with Terry's famous
Texas Rangers, whose exploits are
among the most highly priced tradi-
tions of the war. The intimacy that
grew up between these two regiments
was very close and tender, and re-
manned unbroken to the end. A ranger
would succor I'd Georgia cavalryman
in distress as quickly as he would his
own brother. They fought together,
bivouacked together, and together they
went on many wild, adventurous raid.
Lee had surrendered. Johnston had
surrendered. Old Kirby Smith re-
manned at the head of armed resistance.
The Confederacy was in its death
throes. Wheeler determined not to
surrender his men, but to force his way
across the country to join Smith west
of the Mississippi. To this end he
procured the removal of his command
from Johnston's army, and started
upon one of the most hazardous re-
treats in the annals Of war. While
everywhere Confederate troops were
grounding their arms, taking the oath
of allegiance to the United States Gov
eminent, and returning to their homes,
this little band under their gallant
leader refused to lower the stars and
bars.
Wheeler's bold movement was kept
a profound secret, known only to his
own men and General Johnston. All
thought that the war was over. The
Federals came freely into the lines of
their late foes, and there was general
intermingling of the "blue and gray"
It fell to the lot of Company G to
guard Wheeler's rear. A barrel of
brandy was discovered just inside the
reserve picket line, and these old vet
Grams, with true soldierly instinct,
soon tapped it and were fast get
ting into q hilarious condition. The
Lieutenant in command of the picket
guards was in short time unable to
distinguish Confederate from
"Yank, and was relieved by Mr.. Fair
cloth, the Orderly Sergeant. The
aroma of that brandy was waited to
the olfactories of the Union soldiers,
and soon troop of cavalry was seen
coming at headlong charge upon
that barrel. Sergeant Faircloth obeyed
the orders of his chief, and the dash
ing squadron was received with vol
ley from picket line. They were
dumfounded, and without returning
the fire showed white flag. The Ser
geant advanced to parley with the
bearer of the flag of truce.
,<"What the deuce did you fire for?
Don't you know the war is over?" This
was jerked out by the spokesman on
the other side.
Il obeyed ORDERS" calmly replied
the Sergeant. "No troops can pass
my line"
*But, man, Johnston has surren-
dered, and the war is over. Come, let
us pass, we want to taste that brandy
over there.
Il must carry out my orders" stoutly
maintained Sergt. Taircloth, "and if
your men advance they will be fired
upon. But" he added, II am expect
ing orders calling in my men every
minute, and if you will wait perhaps
you may get drop of the brandy"
Strange to say the troop waited, and
the order came. Then there was a
grand rush for the barrel, and johnny
Gray" and "Yaek" got on a drunk
together.
This was the last shot fired in the
late war, and the incident, now pub.
lished for the first time, will be read
with interest by those who participated
in the novel scene as we'll as the gen
eral public. To complete the story, it
only remains to tell that, acting under
the advice of Johnston, Wheeler gave
over his daring attempt, and turning
over his men to the brigade, regimen.
tai, and company commanders, to act
as they thought fit, gathered about him
few bold spirits, and started to join
the head of the Confederacy in his ef-
forts to escape his pursuers.-Gree1as-